FAQs

whether you are having a home birth or hospital birth, you can have your placenta encapsulated.

how do i get my placenta from the hospital?

You will need to inform your OB or your midwife team that you are interesting in keeping your placenta. Its also a good idea to put this in your birth plan. Ask your birth partner or doula to help advocate for you if you feel that you won’t be able. Since a law protecting a woman’s right to her placenta passed January 2014, all hospitals in Oregon must allow families to take their placentas home immediately after the birth (unless there is a health risk involved such as a uterine infection during labor). You may want to have someone in your support circle on hand so that they can deliver it home to your fridge. I can come to get started at that time, and often, I can have the pills ready for you even before you return from the hospital.

What about the cdc case study about placenta encapsulation?

The article featured a single case of an infant who took ill with GBS, a bacterial infection. The infant’s mother had encapsulated her placenta. The article theorized that the placenta capsules were the reason for the infant becoming reinfected with GBS (the baby had it at birth as well). Given the nature of this information, I wanted to provide you with some information and resources to consider as well.

“The PBi method of encapsulation, which has been scientifically studied, calls for steaming of the placenta prior to dehydration. When prepared properly, any bacteria, including GBS, is destroyed before ever dehydrating the placenta.”

Lastly, here are the preliminary findings from a recent study in Germany on the microbial content of placenta following the “Traditional” style of encapsulation and why we know this method is safe for GBS moms:https://experiment.com/u/DKKnUQ

“The preparation of placental tissue has a clear effect on the microbial contamination: dehydration causes a drastic germ reduction, steaming followed by dehydration causes an even greater reduction of microbial species. Regarding to foodstuff regulations of the European Union, no “unsafe” organisms were detected in our samples.”

In this instance, the placenta in question should *not* have been encapsulated because the baby presented with an infection shortly after the birth. This is standard practice for trained encapsulators. We do not encapsulate the placenta if there is any infection at the time of birth. Additionally, this placenta was not prepared in the “Traditional” style, meaning that it was not steamed prior to the dehydration process. This is the step that would have dealt with any harmful bacteria present in the placenta, but again, it should not have been encapsulated from the start.

I have worked with almost 1,000 families since 2009 and have never had an instance like this happen with my clients. You and your infant’s health, wellbeing and safety are my number one priority. I would not be doing this work if I didn’t believe in the integrity of the practice and if I didn’t feel like it can be done safely. It is with that in mind that some changes that will be made in my service. I will no longer be offering any raw preparations of placenta, including the “Energizing” style or smoothie preparations. Tens of thousands of mothers and parents have encapsulated their placentas in America and this is the very first case we know of where ingesting the placenta could have recolonized the mother with GBS and caused her baby to become recolonized as well. I have personally encapsulated for many mothers and parents with GBS which caused no issue for my clients or their babies. However, in light of these events, it seems the safest for my clients to only offer preparations where the placenta has been well cooked before it is dehydrated (which is the Traditional style). Additionally, I will also be screening clients for GBS before and following the birth and offering them this information so that they can make an informed decision regarding the encapsulation.

Do i need to bring a cooler with me to the hospital?

Yes! I recommend that you bring a cooler with you to the hospital, as the majority of the hospitals in the area will *not* refrigerate it for you. I suggest one around the 28qt size to accommodate the packaging the hospital will use. The staff will package the placenta up for you and provide ice so that it can be kept cold in your personal cooler. It is highly crucial that your placenta not be sent to pathology. In the event this happens, it would no longer be safe for consumption, but you could still bring it home to bury.

tell me more about safety and cross-contamination?

I have done extensive training on food safety and preparation of placenta through the organization Placenta Benefits and my own personal research. I understand the science behind placentaphagy and the ways to prepare the placenta for consumption. I have a valid Oregon State Food Handler’s Card from the Department of Health. As such, I have been properly trained in food safety and contamination prevention. I have completed training in blood borne pathogens and infection control that is specifically for Placenta Encapsulation. This training adheres to OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.1030. Given my background in commercial beverage manufacturing, I know how to properly disinfect my equipment and workspace to prevent cross-contamination and to adhere to state-mandated regulations on disinfection with food production equipment. I adhere to strict standards of sanitation and safety.

Where will you prepare my placenta pills?

I am available to prepare your placenta in either your home or my work space. I strive to make this process as convenient as possible for families to ensure there is no added stress in adding placenta encapsulation to their post-birth plans.

how long does this process take?

The encapsulation process takes two days. The first day prepares it to go into the dehydrator, where it stays for about 16-24 hours (depending on the size of your placenta). The second day of the process involves preparing your dried placenta to go into capsules.

i am having a home birth, what do we need to do to prepare?

For home birth clients, you will need to let your midwife know you intend to keep it and have either freezer bags or tupperware available for them to store the placenta in after the birth. They can place the placenta in the fridge until my arrival.

how many pills will my placenta make?

The average amount of pills one placenta can make is between 80-150 pills, depending on the size of the placenta. This amount will provide plenty for the first weeks of your postpartum healing, plus some to save, if you choose, for when your menses return or other life transitions.

does the process produce a smell?

In the Traditional Chinese Medicine method, the placenta is steamed before dehydration. The steaming process does produce an odor, however, the placenta is being steamed with herbs that overpower that smell. Additionally, I always turn on the stovetop fan to help the steam dissipate. None of my clients have ever complained of a smell or lingering odor. The smell that it produces is similar to steak or liver. Please let me know prior to encapsulation if this is a concern for you and we can discuss the ways to make you the most comfortable.

i am a vegetarian/vegan; can i still ingest my placenta?

I have had many vegetarian/vegan clients who have ingested their placentas and felt that it didn’t conflict with their dietary lifestyle. If you have concerns about this, feel free to be in touch.

More questions? Please contact me or fill out this form and I will be in touch with you soon. Thank you for your interest.